SOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG
Filo No.
HED 12 MAY 93 03:51
PG.12
10.
CONFIDENTIAL
On the point about unilateral action, the Governor explained that the UK Government'e position had always been to press for more directly elected seats in LegCo. China had also asked that no liberale should ba appointed to the Executive Council. They had also linked the airport to political developments in Họng Yong. China might have thought that Hong Kong would want the
The Governor also airport on top of everything. explained that when drawing up his proposals, he had some to the decision that he would not be able to talk to
So he had China and then announce the proposals later. given China two weeks advance notice of his proposals. The initial reactions of the Chinese had been very otxong Lut Deng Xiaoping might also have been a factor underlying such strong reactions.
11.
it would be upctul to
Dr. Kissinger said that from his previous negotiating experience with China, start with the conceptual, let it work through the system and then go into specific proposala. He said he had never had problems with the Chinese by uaing such Factics. To reply to a question from the Governor, Dr. Kissinger confirmed that he had also let China know that he had a bottom-line.
The Governor said he would have to balance public opinion in Hong Kong as views would vary on whether they would like someone to stand up to China,
He also paid that the more democracy or a quiet lifa,
people of Hong Kong wanted to be in a comfortable position and to be able Lu denounce Britain for letting them down. Ke luped to sort out the constitutional development issues of Hong Kong by this summer
13.
In ending the meeting, Dr. Kissinger said that he would tel. Sir Robin Renwick know if, during his visit to China, the Chinese told him anything about Hong Kong.
a.c.
PA
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(Bowen Leung) PS/CH 11.5.93
STI
SCA
IC
Mr. Dinham
Mr. Llewellyn
Mr. Ricketts, HKD, FCO
Mr. Pattison, BE, Washington
Mr. Lo, HIKETO Washington
CONFIDENTIAL